Corset-stay.



M. M. BEEMAN.

CORSET STAY. APPLIOATION FILED 330.21] 1906.

Patented June 2,1914.

, INVENTOR:

BY Al/omey COLUMBIA PLANOGIIAPH c0.,wAs|l|NG1'nN. n, c.

llhl STATES PQQQE @Flf ffilfs MARCUS MERE ITT IBEEIVIAN, OF MEADVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIG-NOlt TO THE SPIRELLA COMPANY, OF MEALDVILLE, PENNSYLVAIIIA, A. C-ORPOEATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CORSET-STAY.

LUEWESE.

The invention consists in an improved construction of stay or stiffener to increase its resiliency and render it of greater stiffness against flatwise bending in one direction than in the other and whereby a garment boned with such stays more effectively serves its intended purpose of supporting the body of the wearer and at the same time affords lcss resistance to the normal movement of the wearer, and whereby a stay of given supporting strength can be formed from a lighter wire than as theretofore constructed.

In the accompanying drawing Figure l is a fragmentary front view of a portion of a corset provided with the improved stay; Fig. 2 is a front or plan view of the stay; Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line :a-.r, Fig. 2; and Fig. i is a longitudinal section on the line g y, Fig. 2.

in the embodiment illustrated in the drawing the stay is formed from a single wire a of spring metal, preferably of steel of the quality used for piano strings and known as *music wire This wire is bent alternately in reverse directions at substantially equidistant parts of its length to substantially semi-circular form to form the curved edge portions or eyes a. The connecting portions or crossings (Z of said wire converge and the curved edge portions 0 partly overlap each other on adjacent sides thereof lengthwise of the stay, as at b. This partial overlapping of the loops or eyes causes each loop or eye to bear upon the. adjacent loop or eye when the stay is flexed flatwise, whereby the successive loops or eyes are supported one upon the other and bending of the stay beyond the elastic limit of the metal is avoided.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 21, 1906.

Patented June 2, 1914.

Serial No. 348,831.

The intermediate portions or crossings (Z are deflected somewhat out of the normal flat plane of the stay, as indicated in Fig. 3, so that a plane equidistant from both side faces of the stay is slightly concave convex in cross section, that is, when the stay is viewed lengthwise. This has the effect not only of increasing the resiliency of the stay and causing it to more readily spring back and resume its normal shape when relieved from strain, but also increases the resistance of the stay against taking a permanent set or bend, as well as rendering said stay stiffer against bending in one flatwise direction than in the other. Such stay is materially stiffer when bent in a direction that its side of greatest convexity is on the inside of the curve than when bent in the opposite direction. This admirably adapts the stay for corset purposes, as it is desirable to have the stay slightly hollow on the inside to more conveniently fit the body of the wearer, and in use the stays are placed in the corsets with their concave sides inwardly. has much as the garment is contracted at the waist line the normal. position of the stay is one in which the ends are bent outwardly with reference to the middle or intermediate portion thereof. Furthermore, the greater part of the bending movements imparted to the stay is one in which this normal curvature is increased. Inasmuch as said bendings are in the flatwisc direction of greatest stiffness of the stay, the latter more effectively serves its intended purpose of supporting the body of the wearer and enables stays of given strength or stiffness to be formed from lighter wire than perfectly flat stays of a similar construction.

The stay is provided with the usual sheet metal tips 0 to protect the garment from direct contact with the end of the wire, and is inserted in the usual pocket 7 of the corset.

What I claim is:

1. A garment stay or stiffener formed of wire bent at regular intervals alternately in opposite directions to form a series of oppositely disposed loops or eyes, the transverse portions or crossings being deflected out of the normal flat plane of the stay be tween the edges thereof, whereby the stay in transvers cross section is concave on one side.

2. A garment stay or stiffener formed from wire bent at regular intervals alterstay between the edges thereof, whereby the nately in reverse directions to form a series stay in transverse section is slightly conof oppositely disposed loops or eyes, each cave on one.s1de. side of each loo-p or eye partly overlapping h/LAROUS MERRITT BEEh/IAN.

5 the adjacent side of the adjoining loop or Witnesses: 7 eye, the transverse portions or crossings being L. H. RICHMOND, deflected out of the normal flat plane of the A. J. DENRY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for in cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

